Sick sinus syndrome
Alternative names:
bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome
Symptoms:
Note: Usually no symptoms are present.
Signs and tests:
The heart rate may be very slow, at any time or after termination of an episode of tachycardia. The blood pressure may be normal or low. The symptoms are nonspecific and may mimic other disorders. The sick sinus syndrome may cause symptoms of heart failure to occur or worsen. The diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome includes a history of symptoms that occur only during arrhythmia episodes.
An ECG shows various arrhythmias characteristic of sick sinus syndrome. Continuous ambulatory (Holter) monitoring may be needed to document the arrhythmia because of the episodic nature of the disorder. An EPS (intracardiac electrophysiology study) may confirm that the arrhythmia is caused by a disorder of the sinus node.
Response of the heart to exercise may demonstrate sick sinus syndrome.
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